Wireless scoring machine for epee and foil fencing

ABSTRACT

A wireless scoring machine for epee and foil fencing is used to generate and receive radio signals transmitted through a traditional epee or foil for counting scores and displaying the scores, wherein the tip of the blade of an epee or a foil equipped with a conductive element electrically is connected to a radio transmitter box. When the tip is in contact with a body of a fencer, the conductive element and the body form a closed circuit to transmit electric power to actuate a radio transmitter to transmit radio signals followed by a radio receiver base station receiving the radio signals and continuously generating electric current to actuate a relay to enable a calculator to calculate the scores followed by displaying the scores.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wireless scoring device, includingcalculating and displaying scores mechanism, for epee and foil fencingwhich receives radio signals transmitted through a traditional epee orfoil for counting and displaying the scores, wherein the tip of an epeeor a foil, the existing equipment requires no change, equipped with aconductive element is connected, via a traditional body power cord, to aradio transmitter box which is actuated to transmit the radio signalswhen in contact with an opponent so that a radio receiver base stationreceives the radio signals to enable a calculator to calculate and addthe scores through a relay followed by displaying the scores.

2. Background of the Invention

Fencing, also called swordsmanship, is a sport, a martial art, and alofty artistry. Recently, fencing is more and more popular because it isuseful for building up one's strength, graceful deportment, andrespectable spirit. Thus, fencing is selected as a formal athleticcontest in many important sporting events while it is also a commendableexercise supported by many sponsors.

Traditionally, for fencing match or practice in epee or foil, scores areusually calculated by a wired scoring machine. In foil fencing, each oftwo fencers holds a foil having a blade with a conductive tip and a bodypower cord is extended rearward from each of the players via a reel to aphysically wired scoring machine. When the tip of one player's foil isin contact with a conductive clothing of the other player, the blade andthe conductive clothing form a circuit to transmit electric power toenable the wired scoring machine to calculate and add the scoresaccordingly. In epee fencing, it requires no conductive clothing, eachof two fencers holds an epee having a blade with a conductive tip and abody power cord is extended rearward via a reel to a physically wiredscoring machine. When the tip of one player's epee is in contact withthe other player, the tip of the epee forms a closed circuit to transmitelectric power to enable the wired scoring machine to calculate and addthe scores accordingly.

The problem with the traditional scoring machine requires expensivereels, scoring indicators and a scoring machine for setting up a stripto be used in a match. They are not extremely portable andcost-effective.

The inventor has therefore attempted to develop a wireless scoringmachine for epee and foil fencing to solve the problems that exist inthe traditionally wired scoring machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a wirelessscoring and displaying device for epee and foil fencing, which receivesradio signals transmitted through a traditional epee or foil forcounting and displaying the scores, wherein the tip of an epee or afoil, the existing equipment requires no change, equipped with aconductive element is connected, via a traditional body power cord, tothe radio transmitter box, a component of the invention, which isactuated to transmit the radio signals when in contact with an opponentso that the radio receiver base station, a component of the invention,receives the radio signals to enable a calculator, a component of theinvention, to calculate and add the scores through a relay, a componentof the invention, followed by displaying the scores.

Based on the disadvantages of the traditionally wired scoring machinefor fencing as described in the background of the invention, the presentinvention provides a wireless scoring and displaying device for epee andfoil fencing with easy to setup, high portability and cost-effectivebenefits.

A traditional epee has a blade with a tip which provides an open circuitof OFF→ON function, and a fencer using an epee needs not wear conductiveclothing, i.e. a metal guard while a traditional foil has a blade with atip which provides a closed circuit of ON→OFF function, and a fencerusing a foil needs to wear conductive clothing for calculating scoresvia an electrically wired connection.

However, when using the Wireless Scoring Machine for Epee and FoilFencing according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention,an epee or a foil fencer needs not wear any conductive clothing. Thewireless transmitting means and the principle thereof is to build on topof the traditional conductive element on the tip of a blade of an epeeor a foil and the traditional body power cord. When the tip is incontact with the body of a fencer, the conductive element and the bodyform a closed circuit to transmit electric power to actuate the radiotransmitter box to transmit radio signals so that the radio receiverbase station receives the radio signals and then generates electriccurrent to actuate a relay for score calculation. Consequently, acalculator calculates and adds the scores via the relay followed bydisplaying the scores. Thus, the Wireless Scoring Machine for Epee andFoil Fencing according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention provides a convenient calculating and displaying means withoutusing any reel for epee and foil fencing.

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present inventionto achieve the above and other objects can be best understood byreferring to the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the diagram of a epee and a epee radio transmitter box.

FIG. 2 is the diagram of a foil and a foil radio transmitter box.

FIG. 3 is the diagram of a radio receiver base station and acalculator/displayer for both of the epee and foil radio transmitterboxes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the Wireless Scoring Machine for Epee andFoil Fencing embodiment is illustrated. As shown, the present inventionis provided with a traditional epee (indicated as 1) in FIG. 1 or foil(indicated as 3) in FIG. 2, an epee radio transmitter box (indicated as2) in FIG. 1 or a foil radio transmitter box (indicated as 4) in FIG. 2,a common radio receiver base station (indicated as 5) in FIG. 3, and acommon calculator/displayer (indicated as 6) in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, the epee radio transmitter box (indicated as 2) isprovided with a direct current power unit (indicated as 21) and a radiotransmitter (indicated as 22). When the conductive element (indicated as11) is in contact with the body of a fencer, it converts the opencircuit into a closed circuit between the two power wires (indicated as12 and 13) to actuate the radio transmitter (indicated as 22) totransmit radio signals.

Referring to FIG. 2, the foil radio transmitter box (indicated as 4) isprovided with a direct current power unit (indicated as 41), a seconddirect current power unit (indicated as 42), a radio transmitter(indicated as 43), and a relay (indicated as 44), wherein the relay isan additional element than those in the epee radio transmitter box(indicated as 2 in FIG. 1). When the conductive element (indicated as31) is in contact with the body of a fencer, it converts the closedcircuit into an open circuit between the two power wires (indicated as32 and 33). As the result of the open circuit (i.e. OFF), a closedcircuit (i.e. ON) between the electrodes A and B is formed to actuatethe radio transmitter to transmit radio signals.

Referring to FIG. 3, the radio receiver base station (indicated as 5)and the calculator/displayer (indicated as 6) embodiment of the presentinvention. The radio receiver base station is provided with a relay(indicated as 51), a radio receiver (indicated as 52) electricallyconnected to the relay, and a direct current power unit (indicated as53) supplying electric power to the radio receiver and continuously therelay so that the radio receiver generates electric current to actuatethe relay electrically connected to the calculator/displayer which ispowered by a second direct current power unit (indicated as 61).

When the radio receiver (indicated as 52) in FIG. 3 receives radiosignals transmitted from a radio transmitter (indicated as 22 in FIG. 1or indicated as 43 in FIG. 2), the radio receiver generates electriccurrent to actuate the relay (indicated as 51) in FIG. 3 so that an opencircuit (i.e. OFF) between two electrodes D and E of the relay will beconverted into a closed circuit (i.e. ON) between the electrodes D andF. Then, the input signals generated from an input terminal (indicatedas 62) of the calculator/displayer (indicated as 6) are transmittedthrough the closed circuit (i.e. ON) between the two electrodes D and Ffor score calculation.

The present invention has been described with a preferred embodimentthereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in thedescribed embodiment can be carried out without departing from the scopeand the principle of the invention that is intended to be limited onlyby the appended claims.

1. A wireless scoring machine for epee and foil fencing comprises a setof two radio transmitter boxes (indicated as 2) in FIG. 1 or (indicatedas 4) in FIG. 2, a common radio receiver base station (indicated as 5)in FIG. 3 and a common calculator/displayer (indicated as 6) in FIG. 3;wherein the radio transmitter box (indicated as 2) in FIG. 1 is appliedto epee fencing, and the radio transmitter box is provided with a directcurrent power unit (indicated as 21) and a radio transmitter (indicatedas 22). When the conductive element (indicated as 11) is in contact withthe body of a fencer, it converts the open circuit into a closed circuitbetween the two power wires (indicated as 12 and 13), and in turnactuate the radio transmitter to transmit radio signals; wherein theradio transmitter box (indicated as 4) in FIG. 2 is applied to foilfencing, and the radio transmitter box is provided with a direct currentpower unit (indicated as 41), an additional direct current power unit(indicated as 42), a radio transmitter (indicated as 43), and a relay(indicated as 44). When the conductive element (indicated as 31) is incontact with the body of a fencer, it converts the closed circuit intoan open circuit between the two power wires (indicated as 32 and 33),and cause an open circuit “OFF” between two electrodes A and C of therelay. As the result of the open circuit (i.e. OFF) in the relay, aclosed circuit (i.e. ON) between the electrodes A and B is formed toactuate the radio transmitter to transmit signals; wherein the radioreceiver base station (indicated as 5) and the calculator/displayer(indicated as 6) in FIG. 3 are applied to both of the epee and foilradio transmitting boxes. The radio receiver base station is providedwith a relay (indicated as 51), a radio receiver (indicated as 52)electrically connected to the relay, and a direct current power unit(indicated as 53) supplying electric power to the radio receiver andcontinuously the relay, the relay is also electrically connected to thecalculator/displayer (indicated as 6) which is powered by a seconddirect current power unit (indicated as 61); the wireless scoringmachine for epee and foil fencing characterizes in that: when the radioreceiver 52 of the radio receiver base station 5 receives radio signalstransmitted by the radio transmitter 22 or 43 of the radio transmitterbox 2 or 4, the radio receiver 52 generates electric current to actuatethe relay 51 so that an open circuit “OFF” between two electrodes D andE of the relay 51 is converted into a closed circuit “ON” between theelectrodes D and F, and input signals generated from an input terminal62 of the calculator/displayer 6 are transmitted through the closedcircuit “ON” between the two electrodes D and F so that thecalculator/displayer 6 calculates and adds scores while displaying thescores to finish recording and displaying the scores.